Directory of After School Activities is now online

In February, Philadelphia announced the Citywide Out of School Time (OST) initiative. Since then, OST has been working to identify and create quality after school programs that help support Philadelphia children in the ways they need it most.

Last week, the After School Activities Partnership (ASAP) online directory with over 1,200 programs went live on the newly launched OST website at ost.phila.gov. You can check out the directory here.

Quality after school programs make a difference. Students who participate in them have better attendance rates and stronger academic performance, as well as more positive peer interactions and overall decision making.

Mayor Jim Kenney knows the importance of quality after school programming.

“We must harness the power of all stakeholders- citizens, non-profits, schools- to develop an OST system that realizes its full potential on behalf of our youngest citizens,” said the Mayor.

Currently, Parks & Recreation, the Department of Human Services (DHS) and the Free Library provide out of school programming for close to 187,000 youth. By aligning and coordinating citywide OST programming the city can ensure that these programs are in conjunction with already existing initiatives like PHLpreK, Rebuild, community schools and the Read by 4th campaign.

From arts to sports to reading and STEM – there are hundreds of opportunities for quality after school programming. Visit the ASAP directory with your child and find the best program together!